BLYTHEVILLE (AP) — Blytheville City Attorney Mike Bearden said city water utility workers likely didn’t know they did anything wrong but said it was against the law for a vendor to give them $100 gift cards for Christmas.

Water utility manager Gary Phillips said Thursday that the company that supplies water meters to the city provided money for $100 gift cards to 20 employees.

Phillips said the initial plan was to ask vendors to help fund a Christmas party. The Blytheville Courier News reported the party wound up being held at a senior center. Phillips says he used the vendor’s cash to buy the workers gift cards.

The law prohibits public servants from receiving gifts related to their duties.